Mattiacci sure Ferrari is making progress

Ferrari team principal Marco Mattiacci is convinced his team is making progress, even if it is just small steps at the moment.

Ferrari remains third in the constructors' championship, but has Force India and Williams within striking distance in fourth and fifth. It has scored points at every race this season, but at the last two rounds has struggled to match the Mercedes-powered opposition on track.

"The way this season is going becomes particularly evident when one races at a track where what counts the most is the power of the car," Mattiacci said. "Today, we tried to get the most out of what we have and we believe we have taken another small step in the right direction."

Kimi Raikkonen has struggled more than Fernando Alonso with just 19 points to Alonso's 79. Mattiacci is keeping the faith in Raikkonen, but said Alonso is showing what the Ferrari is really capable of.

"Unfortunately, we were unable to demonstrate that [small step] with Kimi, who did not have an easy time on this circuit, but we are sure that with the progressive improvement of the car he too will be able to show what he's capable of.

"Fernando could not have done any better today. He managed to maintain a great pace for the whole race, at times even quicker than the leaders and this must serve as an incentive to continue developing the F14 T. Overall the gaps are coming down and the number of teams fighting it out behind the frontrunners is increasing. So our aim is to exploit all our potential to be at the front of the pursuing group."